Thursday, February 02, 2006
Who wants to be a millionare?
By Henrylito D. Tacio
Regarding Henry
IN HIS widely read column in a national daily, Senator Juan M. Flavier wrote this parable:
A Spaniard, an American, a Japanese, and a Filipino were huddled around a square table. A dozen bottles of beer clustered in the middle section. All were empty except for four, one to each person. Shelled peanuts were in a small basket. Empty shells spread on the table and floor.
Talks ranged aimlessly from one topic to another. Some touched on lives in their respective homelands. At times, they discoursed on hot issues of the day. Others were simple recounting of experiences and incidents. Eventually, their animated conversations veered to their favorite theme of money and riches.
"Suppose you went to sleep and woke up to find you had a million bucks," raised the American. "What would you do? Nice thought, huh?" The rest sipped on their beer directly from the ice-cold bottles.
The Spaniard was the first to declare what he would do. "With that kind of money, I will build a bullring. Imagine me owning the whole arena. I can grow richer with the revenues and have fun being the king of the place."
"That sounds nice," replied the American. "In my case, I would go to Europe for a leisurely trip. I am particularly eager to have a good time in the City of Paris. Oolala!" he exclaimed with mischievous glee. "How about you, my friend from the land of the rising sun?"
The Japanese smiled with an air of enigma. "With big money, I build factory. Manufacture electronics and sell all over the world. Very good business."
Now, the three glanced at the Filipino. He had remained expressionless for a while. Then he blurted, "If I had that money, I would go back to sleep."
"Why," the group chorused with surprise. The Filipino grinned and said, "To see if I can get more money in my sleep."
"When it is a question of money, everybody is of the same religion," Voltaire once said. Well, to some people, climbing the ladder to being millionaire is as easy as eating pie. Take the case of those bequeathed with fabulous inheritance. Chances are, for them, it'd be a breeze to climb the ladder of financial success because their kith or kin or some benefactor already built the ladder.
Others join the league by marrying those who are already millionaires. A person can also be an instant million by being engaged in illegal activities like kidnapping and selling prohibited drugs. There are also those who buy sweepstakes or lotto tickets hoping they would win the huge money at stake.
"Just about everyone who's not dreaming would like to be a millionaire," said Eleazar M. Famorcan, a friend who now lives in California. "There's nothing wrong with that. To me, being a millionaire, or being affluent for that matter, becomes an issue only in aspects of how you become one and what happens to you when you become one."
(February 2, 2006 issue)
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